MRI and freebies

I just returned from an MRI, a repeat of the one I had last week. I have to have an open MRI. The doctor did not want me to go to the one here, so I have to make a road trip to get it done.

In the waiting room there was a woman with a baby. She must have been the grandmother. She kept saying sharply to the eight-month-old boy to "settle down!" "Now!" She kept stuffing a bottle in his mouth and trying to cover him up with a fleece blanket. All the time, he fought the bottle and blanket, she was bouncing him up and down.

He wanted to smile at me, but I did not want to encourage him not to sleep. The only thing I said to her was, "How old is he?" She snapped out the answer. Then, she smacked his bottom half a dozen times. Two teens came in and she got up and stomped around. Then, she said, "Let me get out of here before I explode! I will just sit in the truck in the heat!" As she left she was mumbling something about how "she was the rudest person ever." Since I was the only person there, I was puzzled. I barely looked up from my magazine, but since she was in a chair facing me in a very small waiting room, I could not help but see her actions and hear her impatient voice.

Maybe my resting face was a bitch-face. Beats me. I was hurting too much to put on a show of delight for her. Should I have smiled at the magazine? She was acting all angry with the baby as I stood at the window to sign in.

This is not my first MRI, just the windiest. The cold air was not a problem, but I was about to sneeze. That would have disrupted the MRI and made it last longer. It was going to be a big sneeze, so I would probably have hit my head in the machine. I mentioned all this when the MRI was over, and she said she had a fan on me.

They gave me a Coke as I left, saying they were free when I took out money to pay. They have a bowl of snacks, too. So, I left with a Coke, snack, and $10 Walmart card. Sweeeet!

Last Monday, J and I were leaving WM and saw a sign under a tent that said, Free Drinks. You know we stopped by. This was still in the WM parking lot. I drove up to the tent and asked for a free drink for us. The woman said sure but would I do them a favor.  We filled out a form for a credit check to get a credit card for Kay Jewelers. I figured I would not get it and so did J. My credit card for Kay Jewelers arrived today. I probably have a $10 credit limit. Okay, on a hot day, I received a can of Mt. Dew on a very hot day.  I drink few Mt. Dews, but I have never had one in a can. And, I will not be charging jewelry!

Something must be getting Dominique's egg.  I haven't gotten one in a week. She has made a nest in  box on the ground, so I am not sure if she lays in there and a snake gets it before I can. It was only yesterday that it dawned on me to check the box on the ground. That happened a couple of years ago. I just went out four or five times a day and made sure I never left an egg overnight. I saw the huge snake, but I think it left after there were no eggs for it to eat. I am out of her eggs, so I need to get on top of this.

Your turn
If you have gotten an MRI, do you get closed or open MRI? Do you get money and food for doing so? Did you have a fan turned on you, blowing air up your pants? Does anyone have a jewelry store cc?

Almost End of Alternator Saga and Free Lunch

Well, after a two hour nap last evening, I was too stressed to sleep last night. I slept about three hours and called at 10 am to see if alternator was at the auto shop. I rushed right down. It was installed in 1.5 hours. The owner said something about the steering wheel still vibrating. No, it does not. It is an old car and not as tight as it was. However, I am happy with it running now.

I was charged ~$76 for installation and ~$40 for second installation. I asked why..."because we did not do a diagnostic the first time." I told them when I went there that AZ tested it and said it was not working right. ???  As I paid for the second removal and installation, I was grumbling about getting back some of the money for the installation the second time. Guy told me they would probably reimburse me at AZ.

AZ employee wanted to keep the second bill and receipt from the auto shop so the manager could talk to district manager. I refused to leave the receipts, saying I would call district manager myself. Why do I do this to myself?

Oh, did I mention the whine that I recognize as an alternator failing? About 25 years ago, I kept taking a car to the shop and the whine would not happen when there or when the shop guy drove it. The failure was catastrophic when alternator seized up, breaking the serpentine belt and ruining two other components--water pump and ac, I believe. Plus, I was on an interstate under construction and there was no shoulder, only a straight drop of over one foot. I had to muscle the car off at the next exit and cruise through a stop sign and struggle while I got it into a service station.

After I left, I decided to come home and make sure I had receipt in hand instead of searching in the torrid climate of the car or having to search in the store. The ac in the house revived me and I went to the AZ.

As I passed our building for Farmer's Market, people were eating and standing in line for something being cooked. It turns out this was an appreciation day for citizens of Cullman by the Police Dept and a local dentist. I took a detour and ate free lunch--hotdogs/hamburgers with fixings, water, Pepsi products, tiny chip packages, and chocolate chip cookies in tiny bags. SCORE! Another free meal. After this was when I went to AZ.

I had to make another stop to discuss another car repair. It was hotter than Hades, sitting and talking to the guy.

When I went into Walmart, I swore I would not leave until my hair dried out. I just washed it last night, but it was soaked with sweat. You know how the hair at nape of neck and in back of head gets so wet? I was a mess. However, I was dry when I left, only to sweat all over again and arrive home with a wet head again.

Last night, I made a meatloaf for exbf out of ground beef and dry oats. So, he has four frozen meats. Instead of using catsup in the mixture, I used tomato sauce to avoid all the sugar. I did put two fast food catsups on top. Since I have jars of dehydrated onion and dehydrated bell pepper, the meat loaf was easily assembled. Of course, Dominique donated an egg.

J did not come again today. sigh  I lost gifts for grand daughters! Aaaayyyy! <<
Dominique gave me an egg today. 

Monday, I need to recover second removal and installation from AZ.

I hear there is snow in Colorado. Are you experiencing snow or humid and high temperatures? Anyone with a dry heat, congratulations!

Not much resolution

Last night, I lay down with clothes on to rest and awoke this morning at 4:30, still in clothes I wore yesterday. I decided to rest another minute before I changed to nightgown. Well, that never happened.

One wash got onto the clothesline somehow. Dominique loved the rest of the dinner from yesterday. I had gathered enough from our table for two days of abundance for her.

I went on an ant hunt in the floor of the passenger side of the car. NOT ONE ANT! Still, I don't trust they are gone. The floor has been very wet, and I could not figure out why. Today, I found the culprit. It was not a coke can, not a glass or bottle of water spilled. It seems to be the contents of a spray bottle of Armor All. I suppose a passenger stomped it open. That irks me.

Do ants like Armor ALL? I will test out this theory/question.

I was just going to get the shop to order an alternator instead of having to deal with Auto Zone and hoping the car would go there, to the shop, and not stop along a highway. So, I told the shop to order an alternator. Then, it came to me after a nap. That is stupid since the Auto Zone alternator has a lifetime warranty. It will save me $180 to manage to get one from Auto Zone and get it to the shop. I am going to have a friend follow me to AZ and then to shop to assure I am not stranded along the road.

Dominique gave me an egg today. One day this week when I did not report an egg, I put the egg in my pocket as usual and lay down. Unlike other days I have an egg in my pocket and lie down, I lay on my left side where the egg was. Unbelievably, it did not break. So, for those who say one must give oyster shells to hens to get hard eggs, I am hear to say once again, "No, you don't."

So, there!

No car and not happy!

Accidentally posted. But, I was not finished.

Janet suggested ants could have ruined the alternator. I will ask tomorrow. tana50 suggested opening all the doors and using a flame thrower--best idea yet. Thanks to both of you. Tana you have same fantasies I do...lol.

Long Day--Monday and Boring Report

Last night, for various reasons I did not sleep well. First, I stayed up too long looking at the weather stations and reading on internet. Plus, I finally got all the carrots and potatoes cooked. Then, I put a soup mix, put togrther by some kids, in the crockpot with the little bag of seasoning they provided.

I turned off the ac because it was sort of chilly. Then, I became too hot. So, I turned on the ac. Then, my feet were cold. Plus, the whole time it felt like something was crawling in my ear. Earwax? It was so distracting it kept me awake.

When I have something to do early in the morning, the stress also keeps me from sleeping. Exbf was coming and picking me up at 9:30. I finally got to sleep at about 7:30 after turning off the alarm. He woke me by calling so I could come out to the car. I told him to come inside, sit in the chair and read a book until I awoke. Poor guy. I awoke at 12:30 and rushed to wash hair.

When I awoke, he was asleep in the chair with a fuzzy pale pink blanket covering his whole body, even feet. One of small girly print throws was on his head and wrapped around his face. He looked so funny. He was so good to let me sleep. It made a difference in my day. Oh, I had moved the blanket, throw, and book next to his chair so he would be all set. I am so sweet...lol. Really, he gets cold much more easily than I do, plus he could not have moved about to get things.

This hair washing was an exception--I started blow drying as soon as I squeezed my hair out. I bathed and stumbled into clothing. J wanted me to take her to get cigarettes. I had plans today and did practically nothing. I had J pump his gas when we stopped for her cigarettes. I owed her money for mowing the yard, so she could afford cigs.

Plan--exbf and I were going to eat at KFC, using my 1/2 Birthday Card.  Buy one two-piece meal and get the other free. So, for $6.75 we had lunch and I did not have to do anything. We took J back home first.

When I went to Publix to get my a2milk, they were out of the whole milk. I just got the 2%. They have little cups for samples of soup. I spilled mine all over the cart and floor. A guy had gotten me a free water, I spilled it all over the cart and floor. One guy had to clean up after me twice...so embarrassing.

When we pulled up to house, it was 3 pm. I suggested he sit in car while I brought him a pint of soup to take home for dinner, along with 3 lbs. of cooked carrots and the one lone potato. He waited while I brought all to him and was out of here by 4 pm. Yay for both of us. Neither of us was hungry. I will freeze the rest of the soup for three more meals, at least.

As I pulled out the 3 lbs of carrots in the gallon bag to show him, he said wistfully, " I really like these fresh carrots so much better than canned carrots." Poor guy! Since it was sort of cool today, I thought bean soup would be appropriate. He also took home 8 cooked chicken legs. He is set.

Dominique had KFC chicken and a whole small container of slaw. And, she gave me one egg. Despite everything not going as planned, it was a wonderful Monday.

Your turn
Do you ever have trouble sleeping when you know you have something the next morning? I was not this way when I went to school and/or worked.

Cat and Egg and Syrup

There's a new cat in the neighborhood. It has really annoyed me since it appears to have appropriated my picnic table for its lookout perch.  So far, I just scowl at the cat, yeah, like it cares! It also sits on a wall near the back door, apparently doing nothing but soaking up sun.

I never like cats on my porch since they knock items off the porch, like pots of flowers or the paint brush I left there five minutes ago. They sit on my chair cushions or door mats and deposit fleas and hair. They stalk birds. However, there is absolutely nothing that can make a cat go home! I yell and throw things like dust rags and pine cones at them, never hitting them!

After exbf was sitting in the car waiting on me for an hour, he reported a sight that will make this cat a welcome cat. He saw it go under the porch with what he described as "prey" in its mouth. Hallelujah! I have chipmunks or ground squirrels, whichever you want to call them. They dig in any plant I have out in a pot. For years I despised them and for some reason, they went away--probably into a cat's stomach.

For the last six months, it appears chipmunks have returned. So, this cat seems to be the only hunter in the neighborhood. J said it was the cat that always follows her to my house and lives at the same house she does. I only knew a cat followed her one time! This cat is a hunter and she is a city cat who gets plenty of food. So, she must do it for sport, the challenge. I wish I were that fast.

More about the cat. One day, I heard Dominique making noise and told J that Dominique had laid an egg and this was her egg song. We both went around there. No, this cat was at the corner of the pen with two legs/arms through the chain link. I doubt she wanted to give Dominique a friendly hug. Poor Dominique was cackling in the opposite corner of the pen and had not laid an egg.

Chipmunks/ground squirrels--I do not want to hear that they are so cute and stripe-y because I used to think so, too. I even thought raccoons were cute once upon a time! No more. If you love either, come and get them...lol.

I have a dozen eggs from the store that cost $0.50, but will only cook with those. I have everything for a strawberry poke cake laid out when I feel like baking--strawberry cake mix, frozen strawberries, and strawberry jello. I don't have Cool Whip or cream to whip for the top. This was once my older daughter's favorite cake, but she has no memory of it! ??? Son hated Cool Whip, so he ate none of the topping. I think a chocolate poke cake would be fabulous. Or, I could just make chocolate poke brownies. (You don't need a strawberry cake mix, but I have one for some reason.)

Dominique gave me an egg today. She is a real little egg factory! She must have heard I was going to replace her with new hens...lol.  That makes two fresh eggs for me to scramble for dinner tonight or for breakfast tomorrow.  The seven I had from last week was breakfast and a dinner over the weekend.

Does anyone have a tried and true recipe for chocolate syrup to put in milk? I want one with a water base not milk base. I see lots on the internet but don't want to chance mixing up a disaster. Some have brown sugar and white sugar. That seems odd. I really want a recipe with confectioner's sugar.  I am tired of consuming things in the syrup concoctions, powdered or liquid, that I do not wish to consume.

Your turn
I know some of you have cats that hunt? Do you allow cats to stay around because they hunt? Do you hate cats on your cushions and picnic tables and chairs? Exbf just now said he had never had a poke cake. Has anyone eaten a chocolate poke cake? Syrup recipe?